Groundhog Day: What to do in Denver on this “holiday”

Groundhog Day is hardly a national holiday outside of Punxsutawney, Penn.

But judging by Saturday’s music calendar, Groundhog Day is a holy day in Denver.

Just look at the many riches across the city’s rock clubs, from the Lion’s Lair to 3 Kings, Hi-Dive to City Hall. Much of the goodness is local, but some of it’s international in scope and influence.

How do you pick just one? You tell us where you’re going.

Five of the best options for Groundhog Day in Denver clubs:

1. Mouthful of Thunder: It’s been such a pleasure to see Mouthful of Thunder grow and evolve over the years. When they first began playing out, it seemed as if it was impossible to hold in their enthusiasm. Boundless energy. The kind of passion you can’t fake. When you combine everything with their all-too-natural stage presence and undeniable hooks, you have a beautiful live music experience. On Saturday, they’ll headline the Lion’s Lair with the Fire Season and El Toro de la Muerte also on the bill. Cover: $6.

2. Mile High Soul Club: The MHSC DJs are on fire. Their parties have always been a blast, from the old days at RockBar to their recent bashes at the Meadowlark. But with bigger crowds comes a significantly larger room, and starting Saturday, the MHSC will call Beauty Bar its home. “Apparently we’ve got so much soul, that even some buildings can’t contain us,” Mile High Soul Club co-founder and DJ Tyler Jacobson said on his website. And judging by his party-rocking skills at the fun Midnight at the Library dance party on New Year’s Eve, Jacobson speaks the truth. No cover.

3. Just Blaze: The party taking over City Hall on Saturday is a throwdown to be sure. But it is the snowy season, so promoters are calling it a “Snowdown.” The beats will be big and familiar with co-headliner Just Blaze, the producer behind some of the most familiar FM hits of the last decade. (Think Jay-Z, Kanye West, Busta Rhymes, DMX and others.) Just Blaze is currently touring with EDM heavyweight Baauer, so expect a fusion of sounds coming from City Hall’s booming PA. Cover: $20-$109.

4. You, Me & Apollo: We just wrote a big feature on these Fort Collins guys, so we’ve already said how much we appreciate their melodies, their harmonies, their voices. Last week’s CD release show at the Aggie was a success, judging from their many Facebook pics. And on Saturday, the five-piece will release its new EP with a Hi-Dive show. Note: It looks like the show’s going to sell out in advance, so if you’re as passionate about these local lads as we are, hop to it. Cover: $8.

5. Flattery Fest: It’s simple to appreciate the straightforwardly titled Flattery Fest. On Saturday at 3 Kings Tavern, the cover bands will take over the block with sets that celebrate indie legends Fugazi, the Replacements, Misfits, Andre W.K. and the Descendents. We’ve already written about the recent resurgence in “cool” cover bands, but this festival – the first of multiple events, according to the organizers – is taking it all to a different level. With the assistance of a PBR or two, if you close your eyes and give in to the magic, it’s almost as if the Replacements never left this world. Cover: $10.

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Ricardo Baca is the founder and executive editor of Reverb, the co-founder of The UMS and an award-winning critic and editor at The Denver Post.